Cigarette case



1 May 28, 1929.-

J. A. SKOGLUND CIGARETTE CASE Filed March 22, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v gwuvntoz Joseph skojlund Patented May 28, 1929.

warren stares I an CIGARETTE CASE.

Application filed March 22,1927. Serial N0..177,284.

My invention relates to cigarette cases and has for its object to provide a case for the reception of cigarettes either in the bulk or in the original package from-which a portion of the wrapper has been removed to expose the ends of the cigarettes contained therein, said case serving to contain the cigarettes in a readily accessible manner and to prevent the same from becoming broken or crushed While carried about.

Another objectof the invention resides in constructing the case with a body portion having front, back, top and lateral walls and being open at the bottom toreceivethe cigarettes and to form said front wall with a transverse opening at the top thereof through which said cigarettes may be withdrawn, and to further form the rear wall thereof with a finger opening through which the finger may be inserted to press the cigarettesbutwardly through said first named opening and beyond the top of said case so as to permit of the ready removal thereof from the case, the front wall of said case being formed of a flexible material so as to allow the same to bow and expose the cigarettes through said opening. v, I

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a flap for covering said finger opening, said flap being engaged by the finger and operating upon the cigarettes to cause a number of cigarettes to be pro jected through the opening in the front wall upon applying pressure to said flap through,

Y vention;

said finger opening. V

An object of the inventlon res des in providing a retainer adapted to be insertedmto the case from the open end thereof and to yieldingly engage the lateral walls of the case, said retainer having a portion form-;

ing a bottom to said case for holding the cigarettes therein. I i A still further object of the inventionresides in constructing said retainer of spring; sheet metal of U-shaped formatlon, the legsof said retainer normally dlverging from.

the bottom portion thereof and being adapted to be engaged with the inner faces of the lateral walls of said case not only for so for holding the cigarettes with their tips abutting the underside of the topandfor.

yieldingly lending shape to the case proper.

A feature of the invention resides in pro-;

viding the members of the retainer with inholding the retainer within the case, but alto give a rounded effect to the longitudinal corners of the case and tosheath the longitudinal corners and bottomitransverse 'cor- 11ers of a contained package, a further feature residing in forming the legs of the retainer near their junctions with the bottom. member thereof with depressions for stiff-- ening'and adding to the resiliency of said legs.

Another object of the invention resides in forming on the connecting portion of said retainer a finger engaging member constructed by severing the metal of the body of said retainer along. parallel lines and pressing the same outwardly beyond the surface thereof in looped formation.

A further object resides in constructing the legs of the retainer in length shorter than the length of a cigarette, whereby the tips of the contained cigarettes in the case may be held by the retainer-in abutting re lation against the underside of. the top of the case to the end that the tobacco in the cigarettes is less likely to become dry and less likely to become dislodged.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which-will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the detailsof construction hereinafter described and claimed. i

In the drawings: U

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette case illustratingan embodiment of my in- Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the method of placing a package of cigarettes and theretainer within the case.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3.8 oiiFig. 1.

a 'IWF Cs-5 Fig. dis a perspective view of the retainer removed from the case.

Fig. 5 is a developedview of the stock of material or blank from which the'case proper is constructed prior to they making up of the same. 1

My invention comprises primarily a case A which may be constructed of leather, rubber, suitably prepared fabric, or any other material sufficiently flexible to permit of the bending of the SLII1G,'.tS presently will becomeoapparent. The stock from which the case A. is constructed is cut in blank form. as indic'atedatlO in Fig. 5, which form in-, cludesa. front wall portion 11, a top :wall portion 12, a back wall portion 13 and lateral wall portions 14 and 15, the blank or form being scored along lines 16, 17, 18 and 19 upon which the various wall portions may be readily turned to form an enclosure for a. pack of cigarettes. In completing the case as indicated at A in Fig. 1, the edges 20 and 21 are stitched together, similar stiching being applied to edges 22 and 23, edges '24 and 25 and edges 26 and 27. In the formation of the blank 10, the front 11 is severed along twoparall-el lines 28 and 29 and along a transverse line 30 to form a flap 31 to be turned back from the score mark 18 of the blank. This flap is of a length substantially equal to the width of the top 12 and is adapted to be folded inwardly into the case and to be cemented to a stiffening ,member 32 secured to the top 12, so as to present a smooth rounded edge 33 to the 13 along a line 38.

In the use of the case, a cigarette package is pushed into the same from the bottom through the open end left to receive pacliages. A package of cigarettes thus introduced to the case is held in place by means of a retainer B illustrated in detail in Fig. 4. This retainer is preferably constructed of spring sheet metal and is of a width ap-, proximating the inner width of the lateral walls 14 and 15 of the case. The retainer is U-shaped in formation, being provided with legs 39 and 40 issuing from a bottom or connecting portion 41. The edges of the retainer, except at the ends of the legs, are formed with inwardly turned flanges 42 and 43, which flanges are notched, as indicated at 44 and 45, at the corners 46 and 47 of said retainer where the legs 39 and 40 issue from the connecting portion 41. These legs nor mally spring apart and are adapted resiliently to engage the inner surfaces of the lateral walls 14 and 15 of the case, when the retainer is inserted within the same, as illustrated in Fig. 2. To stiffen the retainer B and to add to the resiliency of the legs 39 and 40, said legs are provided with depressions 48 across the same in close proximity to the corners 46 and 47. These depressions form a sort of rib or arch construction be tween the legs and the connecting portion 41, adding to the resiliency and rigidity of the same. I V

To facilitate the withdrawal of the retainer from within the case, the connecting portion 41 is provided with a finger engag ing member 49 which is constructed by severing the body of the metal of said connecting portion alongtwo parallel lines 50 and 51 and pressing the intermediate per-- tion of the same outwardly beyond the surface of said retainer in loop shaped formation, providing a device adapted to be grasped by the fingers of the user so as to permit of withdrawing the retainer from the case.

In the use of the device, a package of cigarettes is inserted within the case proper, the top and the upper portion of the front of the wrapper having been previously torn away to expose the upper ends of the cigarettes. In applying the package to the case, it preferably is first inserted only partly into the same, whereupon the retaining member B grasped between the thumb and forefinger, is closed to cause the legs 39 and 40 to em brace the edges of the protruding portion of the package. The retainer is then'pushed along the package until the ends of. the legs 39 and 40 reach into the case proper, whereupon the closing pressure upon the legs may be relieved'to be followed merely by pushing inwardly against the connecting portion 41. When this portion engages the bottom of the package, both retainer and package move together until the tips of the cigarettes abut against the underside of the top of-the case.

This forms an easy and simple method of inserting the cigarettes within the case without removing the same from the package. The tips of the cigarettes are allowed to be brought snugly into abutting relation with the underside of the top of the case owing to the fact that the legs 39 and 40 are somewhat shorter than the length of the ciga-' rettes. With the cigarettes thus disposed in respect to the top of the case, any tendency of the tobacco in the cigarettes to dry out is retarded and any tendency of the tobacco to become loosened and to shake out of the cigarettes into the pocket containing the case will be minimized. When positioned within the case, as described, the cigarettes in the I foremost row may be projected outwardly through the opening 36 by insertin the finger through the finger opening 30 and pressing the same against the package proper or against the flap 37 if used. This causes the front 11 of the case to bow along the line 30, allowing the cigarettestofbe so projected through the opening 36 and permitting the removal thereof from the case in asimple and convenient manner. 'Upon pressing the cigarettes forwardly the lateral walls 14 and 15 of the case-are slightly drawn together against the spring action of the retainer B, which, upon discontinuance of pressure by the fingers upon the package, spreads the said lateral walls apart holding the front 11 and back 13 taut. This has the effect of drawing the remaining cigarettes back into the case. Whenever it is desired to remove the empty package or to add new cigarettes to the case, the same may be ac retainer B from the case proper as-by grasping the finger engaging member 49 between the thumb and forefinger and drawing the retainer from the case.

If desired, my improved cigarette case may be used for retaining cigarettes in bulk as well as in package form by simply inserting the cigarettes into the case proper when the retaining member is partly inserted therein, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Having supplied the case with loose cigarettes, the retainer is thrust the remaining distance into the case to confine the cigarettes therein as when in package form. The flap 3? "which closes the opening is particularly advantageous when cigarettes are loosely applied to the case, said flap serving to engage a number of the rearmost cigarettes and to project the foremost cigarettes outwardly through the opening 36 when pressure is applied thereto. When the device is clea nod for use with package cigarettes exclusively,'the flap 37 may be entirely omitted, since its purpose is fulfilled by the wrapper of a cigarette package lodged within the case.

The invention is particularly aovan geous in that a simple and eflicient device provided for the reception and protection of cigarettes. The cigarettes are readily accessible' and maybe projectedoutwardly through the opening 36 through which they are seen by merely pressing upon the back of the package through the finger hole provided in the back of the case. lVhen so exposed, cigarettes may be conveniently withdrawn from the case 'without appreciable effort. The resilient retaining member holds the walls of the case so as to prevent breakage of the contents, when the case is carried about in the pocket of a user. All of the metal parts of the case are completely on closed Within the soft pliable case proper so that injury to the clothing or objects on which the case is placed in completely prevented. The invention can be constructed at a nominal cost and is exceedingly simple in construction and operation.

Changes in the specific form of my inventron, herein disclosed, may be made within a the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what .1 claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A case for cigarettes in a package having the top and upper portion of the front thereof removed to provide an opening therein, said case having a body portion of flexible material closed at the top and open at the bottom for the endwise reception of the package and formed with an opening extending across its upper front portion adapted to register with the opening at the front of the cigarette package, said case being formed with another openinglo'cate'd at its upper rear portion for the receptio-nof a finger to force the cigarettes forwardly and urge the foremostthereof through said front wall opening to freotheir tips from,

the'top of thecase and permit of the ready removal of those cigarettes fromthe case.

' A case for cigarettes comprising a body closed at the top and having opposed open lugs near the top in opposite sides thereof, the material of said case adjacent one of said penings being flexible-to permit of bending so as to allow the cigarettes tobejpro jected into said opening upon 'e...gagenient with the finger through said otheropening, whereby the tips ofthe cigarettes are freed from said top and the cigarettes rendered accessible for removal from the case.

' 3:13. case for a packet of cigarettes comprising a body closed at the top and having opposed openingsnear the top in opposite sides thereof, the material of said case adjacent one of said openings being flexible to permit of bending so as to allow the cigarettes to be projected into said opening with the tips thereof clear of said top upon engage'ment with the finger through said other opening, and means for co-operation with the finger for distributing pressure therefrom to all of the cigarettes nextadjacent said last opening.

4;. A case for cigarettes comprising a body closed at "the top and having opposed openings near the top in opposite sides thereof, the material of said case adjacent one of said openingsb'eing flexible to permit of bending so as to allow the cigarettes'to be projected into said opening with the tips thereof clear of said top upon the application of pressure by a finger inserted through said other opening, and a flexible flap, within the case covering said finger opening and adapted to co-operate With the cigarettes within said ease and cause the same to be projected into said first opening.

5. A cigarette case comprising a body consisting of front, back, lateral and top walls, the bottom of the case being open "to receive the contents, the front wall being formed with a transverse opening extending across thesame at the top thereof, the rear wall being formed with a fingeropen-- ing opposite said first opening, the front wall of the case being formed of flexible material to permit of the bowing thereof upon application of pressure to the cigarettes,

through which the upper ends of the'cigarettes may be laterally projected to give ac- *cess thereto for removal thereof from the within said case for application to and recase,

' moval therefrom.

7 A cigarette case comprising a body of flexible material ineludingfront, back and lateral walls, the bottom of the case being open to receive cigarettes, a Ushaped tainer formed of spring metal, the legs and connecting portion of said retainer being provided along their edges with inwardly turned flanges, said legs being normally divergent from said connecting port-ion and adapted to yieldingly engage the lateral walls of said case when inserted therebctween, the connecting portion of said retainer forming a bottom to said case, and said retainer lending shape to the case proper.

8. A cigarettecase comprising a body consisting of front, back, lateral and top walls, the bottom of the case being open to receive cigarettes, the front wall having an opening therein through which the upper ends of the cigarettes may be laterally projected to permit of the removal of cigarettes from the case, a U-shaped retainer formed of spring metal, the legs of the retainer being normally divergent from said connecting port-ion and adapted to yieldingly engage the lateral walls of said case when inserted therebetween, the connecting portion of said retaining member forming a bottom to said case adapted to support the cigarettes on end, said legs of said retainer being shorter with the underside of the top wall of the prising a body including a front wall, back wall, lateral Walls and a top wall, said front wall having an opening adjacent. to the top wall through which cigarettes may be withdrawn from a package sheathed within the case, said back wall having an opening therein opposite said opening in the front wall through which a finger may be inserted to project thecigarettes laterally through the opening in the front wall and thereby free the tips of the cigarettes from said top wall.

10. A case for cigarettes comprising a body including a front wall, back wall, lateral walls and top wall, the front wall having an opening adjacent to the top wall through which cigarettes may be withdrawn, and pressure transmitting means associated with said back wall by which the upper ends of 9. A case for a package of'cigarettes comthe encased cigarettes may be shifted laterally toward said opening in the front wall and clear of said top wall.

11. A case for cigarettes comprising a body including front, back, lateral and top walls, the case being open at the bottom thereof to receive cigarettes, the front wall being formed with an opening therein adjacent to the top wall through which the upper ends of cigarettes may be laterally projected to free the tips thereof from said top wall, and a closure for the bottom of the case.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH A. SKOGLUND. 

